Formulations of pimavanserin

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are capsules containing pimavanserin, processes for manufacturing said capsule, and pharmaceutical compositions containing pimavanserin.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/571,554, filed on Sep. 16, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/363,378, filed on Mar. 25, 2019, which is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2018/048096, filed on Aug. 27, 2018, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/552,300, filed Aug. 30, 2017, and Swedish Patent Application No. 1730232-4, filed Sep. 1, 2017.

FIELD

Provided herein are capsules of pimavanserin and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as pharmaceutical compositions of pimavanserin and methods for manufacturing the capsules.

BACKGROUND

Pimavanserin, the active component in Nuplazid®, is approved for treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis at a dose of 34 mg, taken as two 17 mg tablets once a day. The tablets are immediate release, film-coated tablet containing 20 mg of pimavanserin tartrate, which is equivalent to 17 mg of pimavanserin free base. Inactive ingredients include pregelatinized starch, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose. Additionally, the following inactive ingredients are present as components of the film coat: hypromellose, talc, titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol, and saccharin sodium.

Patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease are at a risk of non-compliance when administered a drug of too large size, or if taken as more than one tablet per day as said patients often have difficulty swallowing. Formulations of pimavanserin are described in WO 2007/133802. Pimavanserin is currently approved and administered as tablets containing 20 mg pimavanserin tartrate (equivalent to 17 mg pimavanserin), taken as two tablets once a day. Each with a total 150 mg tablet weight before film coating, i.e. total weight per dose is 300 mg (equivalent to 34 mg pimavanserin). In order to simplify administration and patient compliance of pimavanserin it would be advantageous to administer pimavanserin as a single dose.

Improved manufacturing processes for single unit dose forms, particularly for smaller sized single unit dosage forms, for oral administration of a therapeutic quantity of pimavanserin are critical. The physical properties of pimavanserin, e.g. bulk density and flow, when prepared in a tablet form requires, e.g. binders and other agents that increase the finished dosage size. Pimavanserin manufactured following conventional techniques has low bulk density and poor flowability and a tendency to clump, which will adversely impact reproducibility and quantitative accurate filling of capsules during the manufacturing process.

Consequently there is a need to improve the properties of pimavanserin allowing dosing of the daily therapeutic dose as a single administration.

SUMMARY

Provided herein are capsules comprising 5-34 mg pimavanserin (equivalent to 6-40 mg pimavanserin tartrate), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

Provided herein are also pharmaceutical compositions consisting of 5-34 mg pimavanserin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a filler and a lubricant.

Provided herein are also processes for manufacturing a capsule comprising 5-34 mg pimavanserin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof comprising: adding water to pimavanserin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and granulating pimavanserin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof with the water; controlling the impeller speed and/or amperage; drying the granulated pimavanserin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; sizing the dried granulated pimavanserin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; blending the dried and granulated pimavanserin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and one or more filler; encapsulating the blended pimavanserin composition in a capsule of size 3 or 4.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a table disclosing specifications of capsule sizes, commercially available.

FIG. 2 schematically discloses a process flow chart for pimavanserin granulation.

FIG. 3 schematically discloses a process flow chart for encapsulating pimavanserin granulation

FIG. 4 shows a particle size distribution diagram of pimavanserin tartrate.

FIG. 5 shows a particle size distribution diagram of granulated pimavanserin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. All patents, applications, published applications and other publications referenced herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that there are a plurality of definitions for a term herein, those in this section prevail unless stated otherwise.

As used herein, “pharmaceutical composition” refers to a composition of one or more active pharmaceutical ingredient(s) alone, or administered with other chemical components, such as diluents, binders, lubricants, pharmaceutical flow agents, and/or other excipients, e.g. for forming a unit dose, such as a tablet, a capsule etc.

As used herein, “physiologically acceptable” defines a diluent, binder, or excipient that does not abrogate the biological activity and properties of the pharmaceutically active compound.

As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to a salt of a compound that does not abrogate the biological activity and properties of the compound. Pharmaceutical salts can be obtained by reaction of a compound disclosed herein with an acid or base. Base-formed salts include, without limitation, ammonium salt (NH₄ ⁺); alkali metal, such as, without limitation, sodium or potassium, salts; alkaline earth, such as, without limitation, calcium or magnesium, salts; salts of organic bases such as, without limitation, dicyclohexylamine, piperidine, piperazine, methylpiperazine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, diethylamine, ethylenediamine, tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamine; and salts with the amino group of amino acids such as, without limitation, arginine and lysine. Useful acid-based salts include, without limitation, acetates, adipates, aspartates, ascorbates, benzoates, butyrates, caparate, caproate, caprylate, camsylates, citrates, decanoates, formates, fumarates, gluconates, glutarate, glycolates, hexanoates, laurates, lactates, maleates, nitrates, oleates, oxalates, octanoates, propanoates, palmitates, phosphates, sebacates, succinates, stearates, sulfates, sulfonates, such as methanesulfonates, ethanesulfonates, p-toluenesulfonates, salicylates, tartrates, and tosylates.

Pharmaceutically acceptable solvates and hydrates are complexes of a compound with one or more solvent of water molecules, or 0.5 to about 100, or 1 to about 100, or 1 to about 10, or one to about 2, 3 or 4, solvent or water molecules.

As used herein, to “modulate” the activity of a receptor means either to activate it, i.e., to increase its cellular function over the base level measured in the particular environment in which it is found, or deactivate it, i.e., decrease its cellular function to less than the measured base level in the environment in which it is found and/or render it unable to perform its cellular function at all, even in the presence of a natural binding partner. A natural binding partner is an endogenous molecule that is an agonist for the receptor.

An “agonist” is defined as a compound that increases the basal activity of a receptor (e.g. signal transduction mediated by the receptor).

As used herein, “partial agonist” refers to a compound that has an affinity for a receptor but, unlike an agonist, when bound to the receptor it elicits only a fractional degree of the pharmacological response normally associated with the receptor even if a large number of receptors are occupied by the compound.

An “inverse agonist” is defined as a compound, which reduces, or suppresses the basal activity of a receptor, such that the compound is not technically an antagonist but, rather, is an agonist with negative intrinsic activity.

As used herein, “antagonist” refers to a compound that binds to a receptor to form a complex that does not give rise to any response, as if the receptor was unoccupied. An antagonist attenuates the action of an agonist on a receptor. An antagonist may bind reversibly or irreversibly, effectively eliminating the activity of the receptor permanently or at least until the antagonist is metabolized or dissociates or is otherwise removed by a physical or biological process.

As used herein, a “subject” refers to an animal that is the object of treatment, observation or experiment. “Animal” includes cold- and warm-blooded vertebrates and invertebrates such as birds, fish, shellfish, reptiles and, in particular, mammals. “Mammal” includes, without limitation, mice; rats; rabbits; guinea pigs; dogs; cats; sheep; goats; cows; horses; primates, such as monkeys, chimpanzees, and apes, and, in particular, humans.

As used herein, an “excipient” refers to an inactive ingredient that is added to a pharmaceutical composition to provide, without limitation, bulk, consistency, stability, binding ability, lubrication, disintegrating ability, etc., to the composition. A “diluent” is a type of excipient.

As used herein, a “diluent”, “bulking agent” and “filler” refer to an ingredient (excipient) in a pharmaceutical composition that lacks pharmacological activity but may be pharmaceutically necessary or desirable, e.g. to enhance or improve the properties of the pharmaceutical blend for manufacturing or physiological purposes. For example, a diluent or filler may be used to increase the bulk of a potent drug whose mass is too small for manufacture or administration.

As used herein, a “binder” is an excipient holding the ingredients together, and forming granules or tablets with required mechanical strength, and may give volume to the formulation. Specific examples of binders are mono-, di-, and poly-saccharides and derivatives thereof; sugar alcohols such as xylitol, sorbitol or maltitol; protein, such as; synthetic polymers, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG). Binders are classified according to their application, e.g. solution binders are dissolved in a solvent (for example water or alcohol may be used in wet granulation processes). Examples include gelatin, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, polyvinylpyrrolidone, starch, sucrose and polyethylene glycol. Dry binders are added to the powder blend, either after a wet granulation step, or as part of a direct powder compression (DC) formula. Examples include cellulose, methyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethylene glycol.

As used herein a “lubricant” refers to an excipient which for example prevents ingredients and excipients to lump together, and/or sticking to the capsule filling machine. A lubricant may also ensure that the formation, filing and ejection of the capsule can occur, for example by lowering friction. Examples of lubricants are talc, silicon dioxide (silica), fatty acids or fatty acid salts, such as magnesium stearate, sodium stearate fumarate, stearic acid, etc.

As used herein a “disintegrant” refers to an excipient which disintegrate a pharmaceutical preparation on contact with an aqueous fluid.

As used herein, “coadministration” of pharmacologically active compounds refers to the delivery of two or more separate chemical entities, whether in vitro or in vivo. Coadministration means the simultaneous delivery of separate agents; the simultaneous delivery of a mixture of agents; as well as the delivery of one agent followed by delivery of a second agent or additional agents. Agents that are coadministered are typically intended to work in conjunction with each other.

The term “an effective amount” as used herein means an amount of active compound or pharmaceutical agent that elicits the biological or medicinal response in a tissue, system, animal or human that is being sought by a researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician, which includes alleviation or palliation of the symptoms of the disease being treated.

The terms screen, screening, delump, delumping, dry milling, and sizing are used interchangeably herein. These terms refer to separation according to size.

The term “granulation” as used herein, and as conventionally used in the pharmaceutical industry, refers to the act or process in which primary powder particles are made to adhere to form larger, multiparticle entities called granules. Granules may for example be formed collecting particles together by creating mechanical bonds between them, e.g. by compression or by using a binder. Granulation is extensively used in the manufacturing of tablets and capsules.

The terms “granulated pimavanserin” and “pimavanserin granulation” are used interchangeably herein.

Generally a granulation process combines one or more particles and forms a granule that will allow tableting or the encapsulation process to be within required limits. The granulation process can be made predictable and repeatable. The granulation can be performed in a variety of equipment such as, but not limited to, low shear, high shear granulators, fluid bed granulator, roller compactor, and slugger.

The term “blending” refers to the mixing of pharmaceutical ingredients to form a mixture of the ingredients, e.g. active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and diluent, as defined by pharmaceutical specifications in the compendial references using a variety of equipment such as, but not limited to, “V”-blenders, bin-blenders, cone-blenders.

The term “encapsulation” refers to a range of techniques used to enclose medicines in a shell, e.g. a two-piece capsule, such as a two-piece hard shell capsule. The capsule referred to herein may be taken orally. Capsules may be designed with a telescoping cap and body manufactured from e.g. gelatin or cellulose.

Compounds

Pimavanserin, which is also known as N-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-N-(4-fluorophenylmethyl)-N′-(4-(2-methylpropyloxy)phenylmethyl)carbamide, N-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-N-(1-methyl-4-piperidinyl)-N′-[[4-(2-methylpropoxy)phenyl]methyl]-urea, 1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-1-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-3-[4-(2-methylpropoxy)benzyl]urea, or ACP-103. Pimavanserin commonly is administered as pimavanserin tartrate and has the structure of Formula (I):

Pimavanserin has previously been synthesized according to the method disclosed in Scheme I.

Alternative methods for preparing pimavanserin are disclosed in WO2017/015272, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Pimavanserin and methods for its use are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,601,740; 7,659,285; 7,713,995; 7,732,462; 7,994,193 and 8,008,323, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Pimavanserin can be obtained in a number of salt and crystalline forms. Exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable salts include the tartrate, hemi-tartrate, citrate, fumarate, maleate, malate, phosphate, succinate, sulphate, and edisylate (ethanedisulfonate) salts. Pimavanserin salts including the aforementioned ions, among others, are described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006-0111399, filed Sep. 26, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. In an embodiment provided herein, pimavanserin is the tartrate salt of pimavanserin. Several crystalline forms of the tartrate salt of pimavanserin have been described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006-0106063, filed Sep. 26, 2006, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,732,615; 7,795,547; 7,790,899; 7,868,176, the entirety of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. In an embodiment provided herein, pimavanserin is the crystalline form of the tartrate salt of pimavanserin Form A. In another embodiment, pimavanserin is the crystalline form of the tartrate salt of pimavanserin Form C. Pimavanserin (including, for example, the tartrate salt) may be formulated into tablets, such as is described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2007-0260064, filed May 15, 2007 and 2007-0264330, filed May 15, 2007, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The pharmacological activity of pimavanserin has been previously reported. See U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2004/0213816 and 2009/0053329, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Pimavanserin is active in a number of models thought to be predictive of antipsychotic activity such as DOI ((±)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, a serotonin agonist) induced head twitches in the rat and attenuation of hyperactivity in mice induced by the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist MK-801. The compound was effective in these models at oral doses of 3 and 10 mg/kg.

Suitable routes of administration of pimanvanserin may, for example, include oral, rectal, transmucosal, topical, or intestinal administration; parenteral delivery, including intramuscular, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramedullary injections, as well as intrathecal, direct intraventricular, intraperitoneal, intranasal, or intraocular injections. The compounds can also be administered in sustained or controlled release dosage forms, including depot injections, osmotic pumps, pills, transdermal (including electrotransport) patches, and the like, for prolonged and/or timed, pulsed administration at a predetermined rate. Embodiments provided herein relate to oral administration of a capsule comprising pimavanserin granulation.

The pharmaceutical compositions described herein comprised in a capsule refer to compositions prepared by methodologies not conventionally used in granulation, such as high and low shear granulation, e.g. using low amounts of water.

For oral administration, the compositions can be formulated readily by combining the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) (e.g., pimavanserin or pimavanserin tartrate) with pharmaceutically acceptable binders or diluents well known in the art. Such binders or diluents enable the API disclosed herein to be formulated as tablets, pills, dragees, capsules, liquids, gels, syrups, slurries, suspensions and the like, for oral ingestion by a patient to be treated.

Provided herein is pimavanserin and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof having altered properties, such as increased bulk density, improved flow, and compressibility allowing the pharmaceutical manufacturing of a capsule comprising about 5-34 mg pimavanserin, such as about 34 mg, which for example may be filled in a size 3 or 4 capsule, such as a capsule of size 4.

It has herein been demonstrated that altering the flow and bulk density of pimavanserin, and compositions comprising pimavanserin using methods described herein results in a reproducible and quantitatively accurate filling of small sized capsules (e.g. size 3 or 4 capsules) in a scaled up pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, e.g. for manufacturing of about 1,000,000 capsules or more, for example at a speed of 40-90,000 capsules per hour.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing as used herein implies certain requirement being met such as manufacturing efficiency and economical requirements. Although also product quality and performance are ensured through the design of effective and efficient manufacturing processes, product and process specifications are based on a mechanistic understanding of how formulation and process factors affect product performance, e.g. variability between batches, assuring continuous real-time quality of the product and the materials, e.g. excipients. Additionally, regulatory policies and procedures used to meet official requirements such as those set out by health authorities, such as EMA (European Medicine agency) and FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and similar agencies in order to obtain the required quality of a drug product has an impact on the pharmaceutical manufacturing. For example, risk-based regulatory approaches recognize the level of scientific understanding of how formulation and manufacturing process factors affect product quality and performance and the capability of process control strategies to prevent or mitigate the risk of producing a poor quality product. For example, manual filling of capsules would not be considered relevant by those skilled in the art as manual filling of capsules cannot provide high reproducibility at the filling speed required to manufacture batches containing more than 100,000 capsules. Consequently those skilled in the art setting out to improve the formulation of an existing active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for example to improve patient compliance, are working with tools used within the field of pharmaceutical manufacturing of small molecules.

Generally when improving the flow of an API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) the fill weight is increased. Increasing the fill weight is counterproductive to filling a small volume, such as a size 3 or even a size 4 capsule, at the production speeds required, such as 40-90,000 capsules per hour.

Disclosed herein are pharmaceutical manufacturing processes for obtaining suitable strength capsules of pimavanserin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, said process comprises spraying water to pimavanserin, followed by a granulation process, wherein pimavanserin is granulated without addition of a binder, and blending followed by encapsulation. The particle size distribution, and/or bulk density of the granulated pimavanserin is controlled and matched to other excipient(s) to improve flow of the composition and assure content uniformity and low variability of the product. Additionally matching of excipient(s) allows reproducibility during encapsulation of pimavanserin. The matching of physical properties of API and other excipients used herein enables pharmaceutical manufacturing, in particular capsule filling (encapsulating the dried pimavanserin granulation in capsules of size 3 or 4) at sufficient speed such as more than 40,000 capsules per hour. Matching of API may for example be done by matching the particle size distribution of the API and one or more excipient. The bulk density of the API and the one or more excipients may also be matched.

For example, as shown in table 1, pimavanserin granulation, as obtained by the pharmaceutical manufacturing described herein vs the native API (active pharmaceutical ingredient (e.g., pimavanserin tartrate), obtained for example as decribed in WO2017/015272), the bulk density and the Carr's Index (Carr's Compressibility Index) have been substantially altered which enables the filling of the above mentioned small capsule. Can's Index compares the difference between the bulk density and tapped density of a substance to determine its compressibility. The bulk density and the Carr's Index may be determined in accordance with USP<616> (method for performing Bulk and Tapped Densities, method 1) and USP<1174> (definition of powder flow) respectively.

TABLE 1 Pimavanserin granulation* Native API Bulk density (g/ml) 0.508 (n = 4) 0.294 (n = 2) according to USP <616> Carr's Index   24 (n = 4)   36 (n = 2) *final blend as disclosed in the example hereinbelow and in table 2

Table 1 visualizes that filling of a capsule, in particular a capsule of size 3 or 4 (capsule volumes of 0.30 and 0.21 ml respectively, approximately 120 mg and 85 mg respectively at a bulk density of 0.5 g/ml). As evident from Table 1, native pimavanserin (API) would be challenging for a size 3 capsule and not possible for a capsule of size 4 without improving the bulk density (as comparison 85 mg of pimavanserin granulation would require about 0.17 ml compared to 0.29 ml for the native API) and flowability (Carr index is frequently used in pharmaceutical manufacturing as an indication of the flowability of a powder, e.g. 2016 U.S. Pharmacopoeia-National Formulary [USP 35 NF 30]).

In particular, disclosed herein are formulation, granulation, dry milling, blending, and encapsulation of pimavanserin containing novel elements. Salient features are that the known granulation technology uses atypical parameters to achieve the desired results. Spray rate, atomization and quantity of water are examples of atypical parameters used in combination with wet granulation to obtain the targeted properties of pimavanserin formulation disclosed herein. For example, pimavanserin has been successfully granulated without the use of binder by spraying, at a controlled rate and under controlled atomization conditions, a controlled amount of water to pimavanserin during the wet granulation to provide granulated pimavanserin suitable for further processing (e.g. drying, blending, etc.) in the pharmaceutical manufacturing of capsules containing 5-34 mg pimavanserin, such as 10-34 mg capsules of size 3 or 4. Prior to the surprising finding that pimavanserin could be successfully wet granulated achieving the targeted imporved physical properties (e.g. bulk density) without the addition of a binder, and by adding a small, such as 2-15% w/w, e.g. 3-10% w/w, 3-8% w/w amount of water to pimavanserin by spraying, many different granulation methods were contemplated and tested, and some discussed more in detail hereinbelow.

In one embodiment, High Shear Granulation (HSG) utilizing a small quantity of water, such as approximately 3-8% w/w of the dry ingredients, under appropriate HSG parameters for atomization, spray rate, impeller speed, and chopper speed was found to provide the required improvements to the pimavanserin (API) physical properties, such as increased bulk density, improved flow, and compressibility. The small quantity of water, its application using appropriate water atomization and/or water application rate are important reasons for the improved properties of pimavanserin. It has herein been demonstrated that the atomized spraying of a small amount of water during the granulation of pimavanserin achieves a wetting of pimavanserin that provides a granulated pimavanserin suitable for pharmaceutical manufacturing of a capsule, such as a capsule of size 4 comprising 10-34 mg pimavanserin. The actual amount of water to be sprayed at the granulation of pimavanserin may vary from batch to batch (depending on surrounding factors such as humidity, temperature, exact properties of the API batch, etc) but is still consider to be a small amount, e.g. 3-10% w/w based on the dry ingredients. The amount of water and the granulation process disclosed herein is controlled by controlling the impeller energy to achieve the targeted impeller speed. The appropriate impeller speed ensures sufficient mixing and controls the growth of granules. The specific small amount of water needed for each batch is controlled by the power consumption (amperage) of the granulator, i.e., if the amperage is too high, additional amounts of water could be sprayed to the granulate in order to obtain pimavanserin having the properties desired in order to pharmaceutically manufacture capsules comprising 5-34 mg pimavanserin. Adding too much water may alter other properties of the API, such as its crystallinity. The properties are achieved via a manufacturing process that includes granulation, using a suitable granulator, e.g. a high shear granulator, simultaneously spraying the adequate amount of water while mixing, followed by screening, and blending appropriate quantities of excipients. In some embodiments the lack of a binder, and using pimavanserin, properly wetted and not over-wetted are believed to be reasons for the fill uniformity observed using the herein described manufacturing process. Over-wetted granulation could seriously affect the further processing. In some embodiments particle size distribution of the granulated pimavanserin is controlled and matched to the particle size distribution of the diluents and other excipients to minimize segregation and improve flow and capsule filling reproducibility. The particle size distribution is also considered a factor involved in the successful filing of capsules of size 3 or 4, as a too aggressive milling would cause a wider particle size distribution and hamper the encapsulation. Examples of suitable particles size distribution of the granulated pimavanserin is a particle size distribution (D90) of 60-450 μm, such as 100-420 μm, such as above 250 μm. Particle size distribution referred to herein is obtained using Laser light scattering particle size (LLS PS) analyses of granulated pimavanserin conducted on a Malvern Mastersizer 2000 LLS PS system using a Scirocco 2000 dry dispersion unit using standard non-GMP conditions, and in a sample size of about 2-10 g. Suitable diluents such as microcrystalline cellulose, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, low substituted hydroxylpropyl cellulose or similar materials to a concentration approximately one-half of the granulation and lubricated with magnesium stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate or other suitable lubricants to prevent sticking to the encapsulation tooling. In some embodiments the particle size distribution of the diluent is matched to the above mentioned particle size distribution of granulated pimavanserin, for example microcrystalline cellulose having a particle size distribution (D90) is 180-420 μm, such as above 250 μm. In some embodiments the lubricant, such as magnesium stearate is also matched to the API. In some embodiments the matching of the particle size distribution of the lubricant, compared to the diluent, is less important in view of the lower amounts used in some embodiments. Optionally suitable binders and/or disintegrants may be included in the blending of the pimavanserin granulation. In some embodiments pimavanserin is blended with a diluent, e.g. microcrystalline cellulose and lubricant, magnesium stearate only, whereas amounts of water were added by spraying during the granulation process

In some embodiments the particle size distribution (D90) of the composition is 60-380 μm, such as 75-350 μm, such as 100-300 μm.

FIG. 4 discloses the particle size distribution of pimavanserin tartrate, prior to the herein disclosed granulation process.

FIG. 5 discloses the particle size distribution of the granulated pimavanserin. The arrow in FIG. 5 indicates the area of particles size distribution of the API. A substantial change in the particle size distribution can be seen, e.g. the D90 has increased from about 30 μm for the API to above 279 μm.

The matching of particles size distribution of the API and diluent is considered one factor influencing the herein disclosed robust process and reproducible encapsulation of pimavanserin, e.g. 10-34 mg pimavansern in size 4 capsules, e.g. two-piece capsules.

In some embodiment bulk density between the API and the diluent and optionally the lubricant are matched, for example granulated pimavanserin having a bulk density above >0.40 g/ml, such as about 0.5 g/ml, and the diluent 0.35-0.46 g/ml.

In some embodiments both the bulk density and the particle size distribution is used in combination in order to adequately match at least the pimavanserin granulate and the diluent in order to obtain capsules of size 4 comprising 10-34 mg pimavanserin.

In some particular embodiments the granulation of pimavanserin may be completed and the obtained pimavanserin granulation having suitable properties for the herein disclosed manufacturing process, in the absence of a binder. It is however possible to include a binder in the granulation but for various reasons not necessarily preferred.

In some embodiments disclosed herein the blended pimavanserin composition, as described herein, comprised in a capsule (e.g a size 4 capsule) have an average Specific Energy (SE) of less than 5 mJ/g, such as less than 4.5 mJ/g, such as less than 4 mJ/g, as obtained by FT4 measurement.

In some embodiments disclosed herein the blended pimavanserin composition, as described herein, comprised in a capsule (e.g a size 4 capsule) have an average Flow Rate Index (FRI) of 0.9-1.2, such as 1.0-1.1, as obtained by FT4 measurement.

In some embodiments disclosed herein the blended pimavanserin composition, as described herein, comprised in a capsule (e.g a size 4 capsule) have an average Specific Energy (SE) of less than 4.5 mJ/g, and an average Flow Rate Index (FRI) of 0.9-1.2.

Pharmaceutical Formulations

Some embodiments include a pharmaceutical composition comprising granulated pimavanserin tartrate, Form C which may include a small percentage of Form A, including a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, binder or excipient, or combination thereof.

The pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein, are in some embodiments, provided as a two-piece hard shell capsules made of gelatin (fish, mammalian, or vegetable sourced) or other combinations. The two-piece hard shell capsules may contain the pimavanserin granules with a filler/diluent and/or lubricants.

The finished dosage forms may be presented in packaging containing metal or plastic foil such as a blister pack. The pack may also be accompanied with a notice associated with the container in form prescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use, or sale of pharmaceuticals, which notice is reflective of approval by the agency of the form of the drug for human or veterinary administration. Such notice, for example, may be the labeling approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for prescription of drugs, or the approved package insert.

WO 2007/133802 discloses that only certain components are compatible with pimavanserin, and although certain components are compatible their use in the herein disclosed capsule may not be preferred. A particular example is lactose as it may have implications to the administration to subject being lactose intolerant.

Some requirements of the pharmaceutical manufacturing for pimavanserin are commercial operational speed, as well as stringent regulatory reguirements. For example, the encapsulation equipment used is capable of 100,000 capsules per hour, such as 40,000 -90,000 capsules per hour, such as 60,000-86,000 capsules per hour, such as 60,000-70,000 capsules per hour. The manufacturing must be reproducible and robust to be capable of this output while producing quality product.

Prior to the surprising finding, i.e. the herein disclosed processes and compositions resulting in a robust and reliable filling of 5-34 mg pimavanserin in capsules of size 3 or 4, such as size 4 capsules, many experiments were done.

Comparative Experiments Resulting in Unacceptable Products

For example, the pharmaceutical industry has used fluid-bed layering extensively for several decades to produce small spherical particles with improved properties (e.g. flowability and compressibility) for further downstream processing, such as capsule filling. During this two-phase process that includes simultaneous spraying and drying, the addition of a binder causes primary particles to increase the diameter of the substrate by the addition of a dense layer of the drug and a binder, one such technique evaluted was top spray layering (use of conventional top-spray fluidized bed granulation equipment to apply the druyg layer to a small substrate particle), e.g. using the following compostion about 63% w/w microcrystalline cellulose (the spherical particle (bead) around which the API is layered or applied), about 28% w/w of pimavanserin tartrate (API), about 6% w/w povidone (binder), such as povidone K30, and about 2% w/w HPMC E5 (Methocel™ E5) (hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose). The top spray fluid-bed layering resulted resulted in particles having an acceptable flow and bulk density but unacceptable stability and particle size distribution as well an an unacceptable amount of impurities. These unacceptable disadvantages, such as unacceptable stability, less favourable dissolution, resulted in deeming this process option unsuitable for the current purpose.

Wurster Layering (a similar and more common process to the Top Spray Layering described above) was tested and found to produce particles having an acceptable flow and bulk density but unacceptable stability and particle size distribution as well an an unacceptable amount of impurities. These unacceptable disadvantages, such as unacceptable stability, less favourable dissolution, resulted in deeming this process option unsuitable for the current purpose. One compostion tested was the same as in the top spray layering.

Extrusion/spheronization is especially useful in producing semi-spherical, dense granules. The physical advantages of extrusion/spheronization vs. other multiparticulate approaches can include relatively high drug loading, improved flow properties, narrow particle size distribution, smooth and a coatable surface, low friability, and uniform packing characteristics. The process consists of five operations, i.e. wet granulating the formulation, followed by screening to form cylindrical extrudates, adding the extrudate to a spheronizer forming spheres from the extrudate, and drying the spheres. Optionally coatings may be applied to the spheres. A composition containing about 27% w/w pimavanserin tartrate as a 32% w/w slurry in water, about 68% w/w microcrystalline cellulose (e.g. Avicel PH 101), about 4% hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (e.g. Methocel™ A15LV), and about 1% w/w povidone (e.g. povidone K30) resulted in particles having an acceptable flow and bulk density but unacceptable stability and particle size distribution as well an an unacceptable amount of impurities. The particles were milled in order to achieve a uniform particle size, yet the amount of impurities and stability were found to be unacceptable.

Twin-Screw Melt Granulation has increased in popularity in pharmaceutical manufacturing due to the numerous advantages of this continuous manufacturing technique over traditional batch wet granulation. Twin-Screw Melt Granulation does not require the use of organic or aqueous solvents, making the entire process less consuming in terms of time and energy as compared to wet granulation, and in view of other tests disclosed hereinabove the use of solvent was deemed as a potential source for the impurities and may have been a factor for the stability issues observed. Consequently Twin-Screw Melt Granulation was evaluated using a binder/disintegrant, heat and agitation. As binder/disintegrant a low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (e.g. LH-B1 marketed by Shin Etsu), and Kollidon® VA64 marketed by BASF were used in separate compositions using about 50 w/w pimavanserin tartrate and LH-B1 and Kollidon VA64 respectively. In either case the resulting particles were screened and evaluated resulting in particles having an acceptable flow and bulk density but unacceptable finding of impurities as well as unacceptable dissolution.

Conventionally wet granulation (both high shear and low shear) have been used for a long time in pharmaceutical manufacturing, an example of a conventional wet granulation process is described in WO2009/061909 wherein table 7 discloses 40-50 w/w of water being used in the wet granulation, i.e. conventionally a wet granulation uses a liquid, e.g. water in order to prepare a wet mass with sufficient plasticity which can be subsequently wet-milled and dried produce granules with improved flow and density properties. High shear granulation was chosen for evaluation due to the higher energy it is capable of imparting to the particles, which was known to improve the particle density, spherocity, and consequently the capsule filling capability and particle flow, respectively. The quantity of water used in conventional or traditional wet granulation proved to be problematic resulting in very large, wet, adhesive pimavanserin granules that would not be easily dried in a fluid bed dryer. Additionally, large quantity of water would also result in high impurties and changes in the crystallinity of pimavanserin.

Several embodiments were evaluated using excipients commonly used to mitigate the impact of high water content while providing excellent granule properties. These did not improve the resulting over-wetting of the pimavanserin blend and resulted in an adhesive wet mass that would not would not be easily dried in a fluid bed dryer.

Contrary to the above disclosed comparative experiments the present application describes processes to manufacture capsules of size 4 comprising 5-34 mg pimavanserin. As additionally disclosed above it was surprisingly found that a 100% pimavanserin high-shear granulation was possible by using only small water quantities, often large quantities of water and a binder conventionally used in high-shear granulation. In order for a small quantity of water to be effective, the distribution of the water should be finely divided providing small points of localized wetting of pimavanserin. Localized wetting is considered wetting of an immediate area around the water droplets. Examples of suitable size of the water droplets to be sprayed are about 0.05-0.15 mm. The granulation of pimavanserin, for example without the presence of a binder, was achieved using a small amount of water and a nozzle, such as an atomizing nozzle, capable of producing a spray pattern that covered a large area of pimavanserin and preventing over-wetting of large areas of the batch. Suitable nozzles are commercially available, e.g. from Spraying Systems Co. Spraying of low amounts of water and appropriate impeller speed and chopper speed of the high shear granulator achieved pimavanserin granulation having altered properties and improved the flow, e.g. bulk density compared to the native API. The total quantity of water added to the pimavanserin granulation should be limited to a global value the would not result in a global state of over-wetting (global refers to a large area of the batch being over-wetted), which as described above would occur during conventional wet granulation of pimavanserin, causing an adhesive wet mass that would not be easily dried in a fluid bed dryer, i.e. not resulting in a sufficiently dried product, or too long drying times, and increasing the risk of changing the crystalline form of pimavanserin (e.g. changing pimavanserin into amorphous forms), which could result in slow dissolution when administered to a patient. As disclosed above conventionally high shear granulation utilizes amounts of water that would lead to over wetting of an API, such as pimavanserin, and the present inventors have demonstrated that an appropriate water application, e.g. using a nozzle, capable of spraying water over a large area of the API, combined with a chopper/impeller speed (e.g. by controlling amperage), results in granulated pimavanserin having improved bulk density suitable for filling amounts disclosed herein into capsules of size 4.

In addition to the global, or batch, over-wetting a local over-wetting may also impair the properties of the API. One solution presented herein relates to applying a spray of water having a droplet size such as 0.05-0.15 mm, e.g. using a nozzle spraying the water and resulting in adequate wetting, locally and globally.

Suitable drying times of the wet granulation described herein is 120 min, such as 100 min, such as 80 min, such as 60 min. A drying time of 60 min is preferred, e.g. in view of process efficiency etc. The global quantity of water will vary depending on many factors such as the capacity of the high shear granulator, loading of the high shear granulator, the batch of pimavanserin to be granulated, surrounding environment, and may be controlled by impeller speed and chopper speed as well as the spray rate and spray pattern parameters (e.g. using a atomization nozzle), and the amperage (energy consumption) of the granulator. As the high shear granulator is an “open” system and energy from the impeller actually incorporates into the product causing the product temperature to increase favorably limiting the global impact of the added water when applied at a low rate. However, the range of water was found to be approximately 3-15% w/w, such as 3-10% w/w, such as 3-8% w/w (based on the mass of the pimavanserin in the granulator at the start of the granulation process). As disclosed herein it has been demonstrated that pimavanserin can be granulated without the use of a binder, i.e. utilizing water only. It is however contemplated that in some embodiments suitable binders, such as cellulose, methyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethylene glycol may be used, although not a necessity. The present high shear granulation of pimavanserin utilizing e.g. 3-8% w/w water, applied by an nozzle, which can generate an atomized spray pattern, provides benefits.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to pimavanserin tartrate as crystalline Form C, Form A or a combination thereof.

The doses referred to herein, i.e. 5-34 mg refers to pimavanserin free base (equivalent to about 6 mg-40 mg pimavanserin tartrate).

Some embodiments relates to pimavanserin tartrate Form C (40 mg of pimavanserin tartrate, equivalent to 34 mg pimavanserin free base) being encapsulated in capsules of size 3 or 4, such as capsules of size 4.

One embodiment of the compositions described herein includes pimavanserin tartrate granulation without binder, dried, and thereafter blended with less than 60% w/w microcrystalline cellulose such as Avicel PH302 or equivalent microcrystalline cellulose, and about 1% w/w magnesium stearate.

In some embodiments the compositions described herein comprises granulated pimavanserin and microcrystalline cellulose is at least 20% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 30% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 40% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 50% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 50-89% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 20-94% w/w, such as 50-94% w/w, such as 57-94% w/w, such as 57-89% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 57-79% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, or 57-60% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, or 57-59.5% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, or 58.5-59.5% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, or 59% w/w microcrystalline cellulose.

In some embodiments the compositions described herein comprises granulated pimavanserin and microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate, such as 0.1-3% w/w, such as 0.5-2% w/w magnesium stearate, or 0.5-1.5% w/w magnesium stearate, or 1% w/w magnesium stearate.

In some embodiments the compositions described herein comprises granulated pimavanserin (5, 10, 20 or 34 mg) and microcrystalline cellulose is at least 20% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 30% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 40% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 50% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 50-89% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 20-94% w/w, such as 50-94% w/w, such as 57-94% w/w, such as 57-89% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as 57-79% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, or 57-60% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, or 57-59.5% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, or 58.5-59.5% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, or 59% w/w microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate, such as 0.1-3% w/w, such as 0.5-2% w/w magnesium stearate, or 0.5-1.5% w/w magnesium stearate, or 1% w/w magnesium stearate.

The compositions disclosed herein comprise pimavanserin and additional compatible excipients, e.g. sugars, sucrose, mannitol, sorbitol, polysaccharides (e.g. from corn, wheat, rice, potato), as well as pregelatinized or partially pregelatinized starches (e.g. STARCH 1500), cellulose preparations such as microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) (e.g. AVICEL® PH 302, AVICEL®PH 102, VIVAPUR® 302, VIVAPUR® 102, EMCOCEL® HD 90), silicified microcrystalline cellulose (e.g. PROSOLV® 50, PROSOLV® 90, PROSOLV® HD90), lactose cellulose blends (e.g. CELLATOSE® 80, CELLATOSE® 90, PROSOLV® EASYtab SP), hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, lubricants such as magnesium stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate, colloidal silicon dioxide, and talc.

Several tests attempting to mitigate the impact of the high water quantity used in high-shear granulation by the use of excipients generally capable of absorption of the water were made. However, these proved to be unsuccessful.

One embodiment of the compositions described herein includes pimavanserin tartrate granulation without binder, drying, and blending said granulation with microcrystalline cellulose having a bulk density of 0.35-0.46 g/ml, and wherein the bulk density of the blended composition is >0.4 g/ml, such as >0.5 g/ml.

In some embodiments the composition comprises microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) having a bulk density of about 0.40 g/ml, such as 0.3-0.5 g/ml, such as 0.35-0.46 g/ml. In some embodiment the API having a bulk density of >0.40 g/ml and MCC having a bulk density of 0.30-0.50 g/ml and is blended with magnesium stearate in order to make up a composition having a bulk density of 0.40-0.55 g/ml.

One embodiment of the compositions described herein includes pimavanserin tartrate granulation with spraying water and without any binder, followed by, drying, and blending said granulation with less than 50% w/w microcrystalline cellulose such as Avicel PH302 or equivalent microcrystalline cellulose, and about 1% w/w magnesium stearate. The spraying of water to pimavanserin tartrate is done while mixing in an appropriate granulator.

Another embodiment of the composition described above includes pimavanserin tartrate granulation containing less than 10% w/w Avicel PH302 and colloidal silicon dioxide, e.g. Aerosil Pharma 200 manufactured by Evonik, with a specific surface area from about 175 to about 225 m²/g blended with less than 60% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as Avicel PH302 or equivalent microcrystalline cellulose, and about 1% w/w magnesium stearate.

Another embodiment of the composition described above includes pimavanserin tartrate granulation containing less than 10% w/w Avicel PH101 and colloidal silicon dioxide with a specific surface area from about 175 to about 225 m²/g, e.g. Aerosil Pharma 200 manufactured by Evonik, blended with less than 60% w/w microcrystalline cellulose, such as Avicel PH302 or equivalent thereof, and about 1% w/w magnesium stearate.

As used herein, whenever a USP is referred to it is the current official version at the time of filing of the application, i.e 40-NF 35, released Nov. 1, 2016 and official May 1, 2017.

Provided herein are embodiment for manufacturing pimavanserin granulation comprising: providing pimavanserin and adding water while mixing in an appropriate granulator, such as a high shear granulator; granulating and; drying the wet pimavanserin granulation, sizing the pimavanserin granulation, e.g. through a screen, such as a 10-20 mesh screen; and obtaining pimavanserin granulation. Said pimavanserin granulation being suitable for encapsulation in size 4 capsules, for example by blending with a diluent before capsule filling (encapsulation).

Provided herein are embodiment for manufacturing pimavanserin granulation by: providing pimavanserin (weighed and the loss-on-drying (LOD) moisture content determined) to a high shear granulator; pre-blending (optional); providing granulation water, e.g. 3-8% w/w, e.g. by spraying at a controlled rate and/or a controlled pattern (e.g. using an atomization nozzle) while monitoring the impeller speed and/or amperage, and granulating; stopping the provision of granulation water, e.g. when the impeller amperage increases; wet massing, e.g. without changing the impeller speed; drying the wet granulation, e.g. in a fluid bed dryer until the LOD moisture is at or below the LOD moisture of the pimavanserin as provided; and sizing, e.g. through a 10-mesh screen; and obtaining pimavanserin granulation. Said pimavanserin granulation being suitable for encapsulation in size 3 or 4 capsules, for example by providing additional excipients during the screening, followed by filling of the capsule.

It is important to control the amount of water, the water application rate and/or water application method thereof (e.g. using an atomization nozzle, or another suitable spraying device) as too much water may have a negative impact, e.g. change its properties, such as its crystallinity, of pimavanserin. Adding too much water, e.g. 25% w/w, would have undesired effects on properties of pimavanserin, which would cause issues with the continued pharmaceutical manufacturing of capsules. In some embodiments water is sprayed (e.g. using an atomization nozzle) to pimavanserin while mixing. Addition of water without mixing may lead to localized over-wetting. Provided herein are embodiments wherein pimavanserin, for example pimavanserin tartrate, such as pimavanserin tartrate Form C, is granulated with water using high shear granulation. In some embodiments the amount of water is 1-10% w/w (water based on dry ingredient content), such as 3-8% w/w. In some embodiments the impeller speed and/or chopper speed of the high shear granulator is controlled in order to obtain a granulation of sufficient quality for further processing. The wet granulation is then dried, e.g. in fluid bed dryers or tray dryers at controlled conditions of temperature and drying air flow. The dried granulation is then sized using a screening mill or other appropriate milling (delumping), and blended with appropriate pharmaceutical diluents and/or binders, such as microcrystalline cellulose, enabling the filling of 5-34 mg granulated pimavanserin (equivalent to about 6 mg-40 mg pimavanserin tartrate) in a size 3 (0.30 ml volume) or 4 (0.21 ml volume) capsule. Some embodiments relates to the capsule being a capsule of size 4, and a two-piece capsule.

Provided herein is a process for manufacturing capsules containing 5-34 mg pimavanserin; by providing pimavanserin, for example pimavanserin tartrate, such as pimavanserin tartrate Form C and water, e.g. 1-10% w/w, such as 2-9% w/w, such as 3-8% w/w, such as 4-8% w/w, such as 5-8% w/w, such as 5-7% w/w to a high shear granulator, granulating pimavanserin and the water, drying the pimavanserin granulation, sizing (or screening, may also be referred to as delumping) the dried pimavanserin granulation, e.g. using a screening mill, blending with one or more pharmaceutical excipients, such as one or more filler (diluent) filling a size 3 or 4 capsule, e.g. a two-piece capsule, with pimavanserin granulation. Provided herein is a process for manufacturing capsules containing 5-34 mg pimavanserin, wherein the process comprises the following (e.g. in said order): providing pimavanserin, for example pimavanserin tartrate, such as pimavanserin tartrate Form C to a high shear granulator, granulating pimavanserin together with water (e.g. 1-10 w/w, such as 2-9% w/w, such as 3-8% w/w, such as 4-8% w/w, such as 5-8% w/w, such as 5-7% w/w) while controlling the water application rate, and/or atomization parameters (e.g. by using an appropriate nozzle such as an externally mixed, two-fluid, air-atomizing spray nozzle), impeller speed (e.g. by monitoring amperage), and/or chopper speed (e.g. by monitoring amperage), drying the granulated pimavanserin, e.g. using fluid bed drying, sizing the dried pimavanserin granulation, e.g. using a screening mill or other appropriate milling device (such as oscillating mills, impact mills), blending the sized pimavanserin granulation with one or more filler/diluent (optionally including a lubricant), and final blending with a lubricant (unless the filler/diluent includes a lubricant), filling a size 3 or 4 two-piece capsule with the blended pimavanserin composition. In some embodiments the capsule is a capsule of size 4 and the amount of pimavanserin is 34 mg. As specified herein, such as hereinbelow, excipients such as diluents, binders, lubricants, pharmaceutical flow agents, and/or other excipients compatible with pimavanserin may be included. Some embodiments provide pimavanserin, microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate only. Some embodiements relate to the microcrystalline cellulose having a a particle size distribution (D90) of 180-340 μm. Some embodiments relate to microcrystalline cellulose having a bulk density above >0.40 g/ml. Some embodiements relate to the microcrystalline cellulose having a a particle size distribution (D90) of 180-340 μm and a bulk density above >0.40 g/ml.

Provided herein are embodiments wherein the capsule is a capsule of size 4, e.g. a two-piece capsule, such as a two-piece hard shell capsule, e.g. a two-piece capsule of gelatin or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). Some commercial examples are VCaps®, VCaps® Plus, Coni-Snap® marketed by Capsugel.

Provided are also embodiments wherein pimavanserin (granulated), microcrystalline cellulose, for example Avicel PH302 or an equivalent microcrystalline cellulose, and/or magnesium stearate, for example vegetable grade are encapsulated in a capsule of size 4, for example a two-piece capsule.

Provided are also embodiments wherein 34 mg pimavanserin (granulated) (equivalent to 40 mg pimavanserin tartrate), microcrystalline cellulose, such as microcrystalline cellulose having a particle size distribution (D90) of 180-340 μm, for example Avicel PH302 or an equivalent microcrystalline cellulose, and/or magnesium stearate, for example vegetable grade are encapsulated in a capsule of size 4, for example a two-piece capsule.

Provided are also embodiments wherein 10 or 20 mg pimavanserin (granulated), microcrystalline cellulose, for example Avicel PH302 or an equivalent microcrystalline cellulose, and/or magnesium stearate, for example vegetable grade are encapsulated in a capsule of size 4, for example a two-piece capsule.

Provided are also embodiments wherein 34 mg pimavanserin (granulated), 59 mg microcrystalline cellulose, for example Avicel PH302 or an equivalent microcrystalline cellulose, and/or 1 mg magnesium stearate, for example vegetable grade are encapsulated in a capsule of size 4, for example a two-piece capsule. No other excipients were added.

Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition, comprising a capsule of pimavanserin and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipient(s) as provided herein, wherein the composition is formulated such that at least 80% of pimavanserin is released in 30 minutes upon administration to a subject.

Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition, comprising a capsule of pimavanserin and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipient(s) as provided herein, wherein the composition is formulated such that at least 80% of the pimavanserin is released from the composition within 30 minutes upon in vitro dissolution testing according to USP<711> (apparatus 1 (basket apparatus)).

The final moisture content of the pimavanserin granulation is equivalent to the starting moisture content of the pimavanserin.

Another requirement achieved by the pimavanserin capsules disclosed herein can be a long shelf-life, i.e., a shelf-life of at least 1 year is obtained, such as 2 years of shelf-life.

EXAMPLES

Manufacturing of a capsule, size 4 two-piece capsule, comprising 34 mg pimavanserin equivalent to 40 mg pimavanserin tartrate

Pimavanserin 34 mg capsules may be prepared as outline herein below.

Granulation: The required ingredients for all operations of the entire process are weighed. The loss-on-drying (LOD) moisture content of the pimavanserin is determined, for example using an appropriate LOD instrument such as those manufacture by Mettler, Arizona Instruments, Ohaus or Denver Insruments. Drying end point may be determined using temperature, time or weight loss. Pimavanserin is charged through a screen (25-40 mesh) into a high shear granulator, for example a Glatt Powerex 50 liter high shear granulator equipped with a 25 liter bowl. Following a pre-blend in the high shear granulator (200-400 rpm), granulation water, e.g. 5-8% w/w is sprayed at a controlled rate ((18.5-26.5 g/min) at 15 psi (10.0-20.0) atomization air pressure while monitoring the impeller speed ((200-400 rpm)) and amperage, chopper speed (1600-2000 rpm). When the impeller amperage increases (such as 13-18%,), the spray of water is stopped and the mixture wet massing for 5 minutes without changing the impeller or chopper speeds. Following the 5-minute wet massing, the wet granulation is discharged and placed in a fluid bed dryer (100-140 cfm; 45-55° C.); dew point 10° C.; filter shaking 15 sec/5 sec (interval/duration) until the LOD moisture is at or below the LOD moisture of the pimavanserin at dispensing. The dried granulation is discharged from the fluid bed dryer, screened through a screen (4-12 mesh), and packaged until diluent blending and encapsulation.

Diluent Blending: The screened, dried pimavanserin granulation is dispensed (weighed) for blending/encapsulation unit operations. The required diluent and lubricant quantities are also dispensed. The dispensing is followed by delumping of pimavanserin granulation with a screening mill such as 197S or U10 Comil equipped with a screen (4-12 mesh) at 2300-2500 rpm, blending of the granulation with diluent using a bin type blender such as 2 liter TOTE blender 20 minutes at 19-21 rpm or other appropriate blender, final blending with lubricant using the same bin type blender or other appropriate blender (3 minutes at 19-21 rpm), and encapsulation using a IIM 2100 equipped with size 4 change parts and 5-12 mm dosing disk (50-90 segments per minute (spm)).

Optionally low shear granulation such as a V-Blender equipped with an intensifier bar, twin screw granulation, may be used instead of the granulation equipment specified above wih appropriate adjustment to the milling/screening parameters to manufacture capsules of pimavanserin

Pimavanserin hard shell capsules (34 mg pimavanserin, equivalent to 40 mg pimavanserin tartrate) were manufactured. Table 2 contains an example of a suitable formulation.

As an alternative, the herein disclosed pimavanserin granulation may be compressed as a tablet.

As an alternative, the herein disclosed pimavanserin granulations may be compressed as a tablet without futher excipients. Thus the composition disclosed in table 2 in some embodiments is used to form tablets. Said tablets may be formed as an alternative to the filling of a capsule. Consequently the obtained pimavansering granulation may be compressed into a tablet of a weight of about 100 mg.

TABLE 2 Composition of Pimavanserin granulation (34 mg) Ingredients Qty (% w/w) Qty (mg)/dose Pimavanserin Tartrate 40.0 40.0^(a) Microcrystalline Cellulose 59.0 59.0 (Avicel PH302, NF, EP) Magnesium Stearate 1.0 1.0 (Vegetable Source, USP, EP) Total 100.0 100.0 ^(a)40 mg pimavanserin tartrate salt is equivalent to 34 mg pimavanserin free base

Table 3 contains the manufacturing process equipment for pimavanserin capsules, 34 mg.

TABLE 3 Equipment class, Manufacturer, Process Step sub-class model, size Screening I (API) Hand screen 30 Mesh hand screen Granulation Vertical granulator Glatt/Powrex VG-50M with 25L Bowl Fluid Bed Drying Fluid bed Glatt GPCG-5 with 25L bowl Screening II (granulation) Hand screen 10 Mesh hand screen Milling Screening mills, Comil 197S or U10 rotating impeller with 045R03125 screen Blending I Diffusion mixers TOTE Bin blender, (Tumble), bin blender 2 cubic foot Screening III Hand screen 30 Mesh hand screen (Magnesium stearate) Final Blending Diffusion mixers TOTE Bin blender, (Tumble), bin blender 2 cubic foot Encapsulation Encapsulator, dosing IIM 2100, Size 4 disk change parts and 10 mm dosing disk Polishing and weight Not applicable Bosch KKE 1500 checking

Table 4 outlines the process parameters and ranges for pimavanserin capsules, 34 mg manufacture. Bold references are target values with the ranges displayed in parenthesis.

TABLE 4 Process Step: Equipment Process Parameter Ranges Screening I (API) Screen size 25-40 Mesh 25-40 Mesh hand screen hand screen Granulation Spray rate (10-50) [g/min] Glatt/Powrex VG-50M Impeller speed (200-400) [rpm] with 25 L bowl Chopper speed (1600-2000) [rpm] Atomization Air (3-20) [psig] Pressure Fluid Bed Drying Process Air Volume (90-210) [cfm] Glatt GPCG-5 with 25 L Inlet Air Temperature (40-60) [° C.] bowl Screening II (granulation) Screen size  4-12 Mesh 4-12 Mesh hand screen hand screen Screening Screen size 25-40 mesh Blending I Diffusion blender Screening Screen size 25-40 Mesh (Magnesium stearate) Blending I Diffusion blending Encapsulation Dosing disk  5-12 mm dosing disk based encapsulator

In some embodiments disclosed herein relate to pimavanserin granulation, e.g. composed as in table 2, having a weight of granulation of 100 mg±7 (average of 20 samples), i.e. the weight relates to the granulation only, i.e. excluding capsule shell weight.

The bulk density of the blended composition is >0.4 g/ml, such as 0.4-0.6 g/ml, such as about 0.5 g/ml determined according to USP <616>, method 1. In some embodiments the bulk density of the composition is >0.4 g/ml, such as about 0.5 g/ml, such as 0.51 g/ml, such as 0.508 g/ml.

The bulk density of pimavanserin granulation is >0.4 g/ml, such as 0.4-0.6 g/ml, such as about 0.5 g/ml, determined according to USP <616>, method 1. In some embodiments the bulk density of the pimavanserin granulation is >0.4 g/ml, such as about 0.5 g/ml, such as 0.51 g/ml, such as 0.508 g/ml.

In addition to the bulk density and Can's Index obtained according to USP <616>, method 1, FT4 Powder Rheology was obtained for the API (pimavanserin tartrate) and for the compositions disclosed herein using a FT4 Powder Rheometer according to ASTM D7891-15; Standard Test Method for Shear Testing of Powders Using the Freeman Technology FT4 Powder Rheometer Shear Cell.

As discussed herein above the flowability of the composition has been improved compared to the API (pimavanserin tartrate), which for example can be supported by the Specific Energy (SE) obtained from the FT4 measurments. Specific Energy is a measure of the powder's flowability when unconfined, such as during low stress filling, or low shear blending. The average Specific Energy (SE) for the API is about 10.08+/−0.23 mJ/g. The granulated pimavanserin had an average SE of 6.81+/−0.63 mJ/g, and the blended pimavanserin composition an average SE of 3.96+/−0.36 mJ/g. Thus the unconfined flowability was substantially improved compared to the API.

In addition to SE, the Flow Rate Index (FRI) of the composition showed significant improvement compared to the API (pimavanserin tartrate). FRI indicates sensitivity to changing the rate of flow, and the pimavanserin tartrate had an average FRI of 1.90±0.01, the granulated pimavanserin an average FRI of 1.52+/−0.10, and the blended pimavanserin composition had an average FRI of 1.08±0.06, again showing the improved properties for the granulated pimavanserin as well as the blended pimavanserin composition for filling into a capsule of size 3 or 4.

The FT4 Powder Rheometer was also used as yet another means to compare the bulk density between the API, the granulated pimavanserin and the blended pimavanserin compositions disclosed herein and in the accompanying claims. The bulk density is a conditioned bulk density as obtained by the FT4 measurement, in accordance with ASTM D7891-15; Standard Test Method for Shear Testing of Powders Using the Freeman Technology FT4 Powder Rheometer Shear Cell. Pimavanserin tartrate (API) had an average conditioned bulk density (CBD) of 0.336±0.006 g/ml, granulated pimavanserin tartrate had an average conditioned bulk density (CBD) of 0.478±0.028 g/ml, and the blended pimavanserin composition an average CBD of 0.504±0.020 g/ml.

The conditioned bulk density of the blended composition is >0.45 g/ml, such as 0.45-0.6 g/ml, such as 0.47-0.55 g/ml determined according to ASTM D7891-15. In some embodiments the bulk density of the composition >0.45 g/ml, such as an average of about 0.5 g/ml.

The conditioned bulk density of the granulated pimavanserin is >0.42 g/ml, such as 0.42-0.55 g/ml, such as 0.43-0.53 g/ml determined according to ASTM D7891-15. In some embodiments the bulk density of the granulated pimavanserin >0.42 g/ml, such as an average of about 0.48 g/ml.

The blended pimavanserin composition used in the herein mention FT4 Powder Rheometry measurements comprised 34 mg pimavanserin, 59 mg microcrystalline cellulose and 1 mg magnesium stearate.

The capsules comprising 5-34 mg pimavanserin are stable upon actual or simulated storage under open conditions at 25° C.±2°/60%±5% (RH) relative humidity for at least 1 year, such as at least 1.5 years.

Alternative methods and equipment to be used in connection with the herein disclosed methods, compostions, capsules, tablets and disclosures may be found in SUPAC: manufacturing equipment addendum, an U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) issued guidance for industry, e.g. in the December 2014 version, Pharmaceutical Quality/CMC.

The embodiments disclosed herein above meet all specifications outlined relating to the marketing authorization of Nuplazid®, for example:

Assay (90.0-110.0% of Label Claim), i.e. quantify the amount of pimavanserin free base in the drug product, for example using reverse phase HPLC with UV-detection at 210 nm. An example of eluent is a gradient comprised of two mobile phases such as ammonium buffer (pH 9.0), and acetonitrile/methanol (80/20 vol/vol).

Content Uniformity as determined using USP <905>, Uniformity of Dosage Forms and wherein the maximum Acceptance Value (AV) NMT (not more than) 15.0. The AV is calculated for the number of units tested; Level 1=10 units; Level 2=30 units using the following: the mean Assay value for the number of units tested Minus Either 98.5 (when the mean is less than 98.5% of target assay) and 101.5 (when the mean is greater than 101.5% of target assay) times 2.4 (10 units) or 2.0 (30 units) plus the difference bewtween the Mean and the appropriate Upper/Lower % of target assay, using the method for hard capsules.

Dissolution USP <711>:

Stage 1: Q=80% within 30 minutes

Stage 2: Average of 12 units (Stage 1 & Stage 2) is equal to or greater than Q with no unit less than Q-15%

X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analyses on a Bruker AXS D8 Advance system with a Bragg-Brentano configuration using CuKα radiation confirmed that all XRPD patterns for the granulations correspond to the XRPD patterns of the currently approved NUPLAZID 17 mg tablet (pimavanserin tartrate form C), which for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,732,615.

Long term stability data for capsules containing 34 mg pimavanserin, 59 mg microcrystalline cellulose and 1 mg magnesium stearate at 18 months were determined using standard procedures such as actual or simulated storage under open conditions at 25° C.±2°/60%±5% (RH) relative humidity, e.g. as outlined in WHO Technical Report Series, No. 953, 2009, Annex 2, and the following observations and determinations were made:

Appearance: unchanged at 18 months

Assay (90.0-110.0% of Label Claim): Day 8: 100±2%; 18 months: 100±2%

Total impurities: Day 0: 0.3%; 18 months: 0.3%, determined in line with Assay.

Dissolution (at 18 months): at least 80% of the pimavanserin is released from the composition within 30 minutes upon in vitro dissolution testing according to USP<711> (apparatus 1 (basket apparatus)).

Water content (determined in line with USP<921>, method Ia : Day 0: 2.9%; 18 months: 2.9%. 

1. A pharmaceutically acceptable capsule for orally delivering 34 mg of pimavanserin to a patient, wherein the capsule has a size 3 or 4 capsule shell that contains a blended pimavanserin composition comprising: 40 mg granulated pimavanserin tartrate wherein the bulk density of the granulated pimavanserin tartrate is >0.4 g/ml as determined by USP<616>, method 1; and an excipient.
 2. The pharmaceutically acceptable capsule of claim 1, wherein the excipient is selected from the group consisting of a cellulose, a polysaccharide, and polyvinylpyrrolidone.
 3. The pharmaceutically acceptable capsule of claim 1, wherein the excipient is selected from the group consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, and a lactose cellulose blend.
 4. The pharmaceutically acceptable capsule of claim 1, wherein the excipient is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, mannitol, sorbitol, pregelatinized starch, and partially pregelatinized starch.
 5. The pharmaceutically acceptable capsule of claim 1, wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of magnesium stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate, colloidal silicon dioxide, and talc.
 6. The pharmaceutically acceptable capsule of claim 3, wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of magnesium stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate, colloidal silicon dioxide, and talc.
 7. The pharmaceutically acceptable capsule of claim 1, wherein the blended pimavanserin composition has a D90 particle size distribution of 60-450 μm as measured using laser scattering particle size analysis.
 8. A pharmaceutically acceptable capsule for orally delivering 5-34 mg of pimavanserin to a patient, wherein the capsule contains a blended pimavanserin composition comprising: granulated pimavanserin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the bulk density of the granulated pimavanserin or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is 0.4 g/ml to 0.6 g/ml as determined by USP<616>, method 1; a filler and optionally a lubricant.
 9. The pharmaceutically acceptable capsule of claim 8, wherein the capsule has a size 3 capsule shell.
 10. The pharmaceutically acceptable capsule of claim 8, wherein the capsule has a size 4 capsule shell.
 11. The pharmaceutically acceptable capsule of claim 8, wherein the blended pimavanserin composition has a D90 particle size distribution of 60-450 μm as measured using laser scattering particle size analysis.
 12. The pharmaceutically acceptable capsule of claim 8, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is selected from the group consisting of tartrate, hemi-tartrate, citrate, fumarate, maleate, malate, phosphate, succinate, sulphate, and edisylate salt.
 13. The pharmaceutically acceptable capsule of claim 8, wherein the granulated pimavanserin is formed by wet granulating native pimavanserin with water, and without the addition of a binder. 